Telephone-mouthpiece.



Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

L. STEINBERGER TELEPHONE MOUTHPIEGE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1910.

14 //v VENTUR 02m; Li ia/May? BY WITNESSES ATTORNEYS LOUIS srnmnnnienn,on NEW YORK, iv. Y.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

Application filed August 20, 1910. Serial No. 578,085.

' To all whom it may concern:

"comprehends Be it known that I, Louis STEINBERGER, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough ofBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and Stateof New York, have invented anew and Improved Telephone -Mouthpiece, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to telephone mouthieces, my moreparticular purposebeing to improve the sanitation of the mouthpiece, and also to providefor increasing its stren th for rendering its various portions readi yaccessible and for otherwise improving its general efiiciency. r Moreparticularly stated, my invention a mouthpiece of such form as toprovide a surface comparatively free from lodging places for bacteriaand other disease germs.

My invention further comprehends giving to various parts of themouthpiece such curvature that when assembled the complete structurewill have a minimum of abrupt corners, especially in those portions ofthe mouthpiece which ordinarily face the operator. Again, my inventioncontemplates a judicious use of metal and tough material, such as.electrose, whereby the metallic parts serve to-brace the/parts made ofnon-metallic material, and the parts made of such material are in turnso placed relatively to the metal as to avail themselves, as faraspracticable, of its bracing strength.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of ref erence indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a section through my improved mouthpiece, and is taken onthe line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan or bottom view of themouthpiece shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig.1; and Fig. 4 is a detail showing in per-- spective the threaded sleevealone.

At 3 is a body portionmade in this instance of electrose, but whichmight be constructed of hard rubber or any other appropriatematerialsuitable for the purpose. The body portion 3 is provided with a shoulder4 and with an annular flange 5, the lower or inner edge of which isrounded, as

or thimble. an

indicated in Fig. 1. At 6 is a metallic sleeve having enerally theformof a cup d provided externally with a thread 7. The sleeve 6 isfurther provided at its top with a concavity 8, the latterhavingperforations 10 preferably seven in number, one of the perforations beindisposed centrally and the other six dieing grouped around it insubstantially the form of a circle, as indicated in Fig. 2. The sleeve 6has an annular portion 11 integral with it and supporting the concaveportion 8. The sleeve is further provided with a number of slots 9extending throughout its entire width in a direction crossing thegeneral direction of the thread 7. The body portion 3 is provided withslots 13 which, when the parts are assembled, merge into the slots 9.

In makin the mouth iece, the metallic sleeve 6 is rst produc and isprovided with the concavity 8. The plastic composition is next filledinto and around it. and pressed up. The, body portion 3 is thusconnected with the metallic sleeve, the thread 7 and the slots 9 of thesleeve extending a little distance into the body portion 3, so as toafford a good anchorage for holding the body portion'3 and the sleeve 6together. The sleeve 6' is provided with holes 1 1, 15 used asanchorages, and also with slots, portions of which arelalso used asanchorages. That is to say, when the body portion 3 and portions of thismaterial extend through the holes 14, 15 and into the slots 9 and alsoover and into the threads, thus anchoring the sleeve rigidly in relationto .the body portion. The body portion 3 is provided with slots 13 andthe slots 9 of the sleeve 6 are so positioned that when theparts areassembled, as indicated in Fig. 1, the slots 9, 13 are in registry witheachother' and practically continuous. I The mouthpiece as a whole isthus virtually provided with three slots used as air vents.

It will be noted that the upper central or I concave portion of thesleeve 6 has a'ourvature approximating that of a hemisphere. The upperexposed surface of the concavity 8 registers with the inner surface ofthe body portion 3. To facilitate this purpose I provide an annularshoulder 18 integral with the body ortion' 3 and e aged by the annularsur ace 11. "This being the case, the I inner portion of the mouthpiecepresents a curved substantially surface all parts of which'are more orless curved, there being only a single line of demarcation between theconcavity 8 and the inner surface of the body portion. A person placinghis fingers Within the mouthpiece can feel no joint or seam between theinner surface of the mouthpiece and the concavity 8 which is of metal.

The construction above described makes it almost impossible for bacteriaor other dis ease germs to so lodge within the mouthpiece that they cannot be readily removed. The operator, by simply wiping out themouthpiece with a cloth, disinfectin mop or analogous member is able toreac each and every. portion of the interior of the mouthpiece and toremove or destroy any bacteria or disease germs which may be present.Moreover, lie can run a brush axially through the longitudinal passagesand clean the same somewhat after the manner of cleaning a pipe sten Theparts-being assembled as above de scribed and securedpermanentlytogether, the

mouthpiece is ready for use. In order to mount it in position, the loweror threaded portion of the sleeve 6 is inserted in the face plate sothatthe thread 7 catches the thread of the face plate and the mouthpieceis then turned until the annular shoulder 4 lodges against the faceplate.

The mouthpiece above described, if made as indicated, is quitesymmetrical in its measurements, as well as in its appearance,

and serves to give good articulation with good sanitation. The alarmingspread of contagious'diseases, and particularly tuberculosis, has madeit very desirable that the mouthpieces employed in telephones shall e,as nearly as-practicable, germ-proof, and also easy to clean and tomaintain in good sanitary condition.

I do not limit myself to theparticular form of any or all of the anddescribed, nor to the exact combination shown, nor to employ in everyinstance a separate sleeve-like member. Jeither do I limit myself to.the use of any prescribed materials; I prefer, however, to employ forthe mouthpiece the material well known in this art as electrose.

Having thus described claim as new and desire to Patent:

1. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a body portion. having an innersurface and also having an annular flange and ametallic sleeve providedwith a surface for enmy invention, I- secure by Letters gaging the innersurface of said flange, and

further provided with a middle portion into the form of a hemisphere,said middle portion being in registry with the inner surface of saidbody portion.

2. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a of said concavity with anannular shoulder, said sleeve parts herein shown tion having a. concavitsound apertures,- and a body-portion of encirclin body portion ofcomposition having an inner surface, and a metallic sleeve provided witha concavity so located that the surface registers accurately with thesaid inner surface of said body portion.

3. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a body portion having an innersurface and also having an annular shoulder and a metallic sleeverovided' externally with a thread, said s eeve being further providedflat portion sunken mto said body portion, and also provided with aconcavity, the inner surface of which registers with the inner surfaceof said body portion.

4. A'telephone mouthpiece, comprising a body portion having ,an innersurface and also a flange, and a metallic sleeve provided with a portionfor engaging said flange for the purpose of holding said sleeve inposition, said sleeve being also provided with a concavity so formed asto register with said inner surface of said mouthpiece.

5. A telephone mouthpiece, com rising a body portion of molded materiaand a sleeve connected therewith and provided with threads, said sleevebeing partlally embedded -with1n said body portion, said'body portionbein provided with an inner surface, and sai sleeve being furtherprovided with a portion re 'stering with said inner surface and rovi edwith sound pamages.

6. A telep one mouthpiece, com rising a body portion provided internallywith an annular shoulder, and a sleeve partially embedded within saidbody portion and provided with a portion engaging saidannular beingfurther provided with .a concavity, the curvature of which coincideswith the internal surface of said body portion.

7. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising-a sleeve having a concavity, andalso havin sound passages through said concavity, an a y portionengaging said sleeve and having an inner sur ace registering with one110 of the surfaces of said concavity so as to iorm therewith apractically continuous surace.

g .8. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a generallva cylindrical format one of its ends with a porand also having sleeve havin and provide?molded material engaging said sleeve bot-h externally and internally,said body portion said concavity so that said concavity virtually formsa bottom for said y ortion.

9. telephone mouthpiece, comprising a body portion of molded materialhaving internally an annular shoulder, and a metallic sleeve connectedrigidly with said body portion and having a concavity, said sleeve beingfurther provided with a portion engaging said shoulder, said concavityjoining .which forms virtually a bottom for said body member, saidsleeve being furtherprovided with a thread whereby it may be mounted.

11. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a sleeve having a concavity, anda body por tion connected with said sleeve and having an inner surfacein registry with said con cavity, said sleeve being further ,providedwith sound passages. v

12. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a body member-having acurvedinner edge,

and a sleeve connected with said body meme ber ,and partially embeddedtherein, said curved inner edge of said body member be ing disposedwithin said; sleeve, and said sleeve bein provided with sound passages.

'13. A to ephone mouthpiece, comprising a sleeve provided externallywith a thread, and further provided with a concavity and with an annularportion encircling sa'id con cavity, and a body member of moldedmaterial engaging said sleeve and encircling said concavity thereof. 1

14. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a sleeve having an annularportion and a concavity within said annular portion, and, further)IOVlClQCl with sound passages within said annular portion, and a bodymember of molded material partially enveloping said sleeve and engagingsaid annular portion thereof.

15. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a sleeve having generally acylindrical form and provided with passages extending radially throughit, said sleeve being further provided with a portion having sound passages, and a body portion partially enveloping said sleeve and made ofmolded material extending through said passages extending radiallythrough said sleeve.

16. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a body portion of moldedmaterial, and a metallic sleeve engaging said body portion,

said metallic sleeve being provided with an annular portion and withholes extending through said annular portion, said body member havingportions extending through said holes for the purpose of anchoring saidsleeve relatively to said body member, said sleeve being furtherprovided with sound passages. I

17 A' telephone mouthpiece, comprising a body member of insulatingmaterial having a. thick portion, and a metallic sleeve provided withthreads and with'slots, said metallic sleeve being partially embeddedwithin said thick portion, a portion of said threads and a portion ofsaid slots constituting anchorages for securing said metallicsleeverelatively to said thick portion of said body member.

18. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a hollow member provided with a'portion for securing-it to a support, and further provided with ends.and with a rounded bottom, said bottom beingprovidedv with soundpassages andbeing located between said ends.

19. A telephone mouthpiece, comprising a hollow member provided withends, a concavo-convex bottom located between said ends of said hollowmemberand provided with sound passages extending through said bottom,and 1 eans for securing said hollow .member to a support.

20. A mouthpiece, comprising a hollow member prov1ded with ends and'with a' curved inner side wall, a concave-hemispherical bottom locatedwithin said hollow member and disposed between the endsthereof, saidbottom being provided with sound passages, the curved inner side wall ofsaid hollow member mer ing into said concave hemispherical bottom, andmeans for securing said hollow member to a support. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification 1n thepresence of two subserlbmg witnesses.

LOUIS CTEINBERGER.

Witnesses lVAL'roN HAmusoN, PHiLIP D. Romanians,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 3

